NPEL: Introduction and Objectives

NEUROPATHOLOGY- INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

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INTRODUCTION:

Welcome to neuropathology. For the next 7 teaching days, we are going to explore diseases that affect the nervous system. It is my hope that you will find this exercise more fun than not; and in particular, relevant to your medical education and future practice. In the following few paragraphs, I would like to discuss the format of the course, and what you can expect and not expect.

First, concerning learning resources, there are four: lectures, handouts, CATS and textbook reading. With regard to the latter, the relevant chapter in Robbins (Pathologic Basis of Disease, 5th edition, Saunders, Philadelphia, 1994) is chapter 29, pp. 1295-1356. This is a reasonable overview of neuropathology. If you wish to supplement this overview with a more detailed account on any given subject, I suggest Okazaki's Fundamentals of Neuropathology: morphologic basis of neurologic disorders, 2nd edition, Igahu Shoin Ltd., New York, 1989. The information in this text is accurate and complete, it is a reasonably priced book, and is available through the bookstore. Finally, you may wish to spend some time reviewing neuroanatomy and neurophysiology. For this I suggest Medical Neurosciences: an approach to anatomy, pathology, and physiology by systems and levels, 2nd edition, Little Brown, Boston, 1986. This paperback has everything you need to know about normal nervous system function and structure. It will be a good reference for future use.

The handouts represent a summary, in outline form, of information presented in both the reading and lectures. There is a corresponding handout for each lecture, and you should consider the handouts to contain all the essential points that I think are important for a fundamental understanding of neuropathology. However, many of the points will be amplified in the lectures for emphasis. I have found in years past that many of the questions asked in class are not necessary if the handout for each lecture is read carefully before the lecture.

The lectures are organized into the major disease categories of neuropathology. I do not propose to cram a bunch of useless information into each of the hours. Rather, I will try to offer clinically relevant information germane to deranged function of the nervous system. There should be ample time built into each hour for questions and discussion.

OVERALL OBJECTIVES:

To become familiar with a vocabulary relevant to diseases of the nervous system.
To understand basic pathogenic mechanisms of neurologic disease.
To begin to correlate clinical and pathologic features of neurologic disease.
To acquire a limited but relevant body of information relating to neuropathology.
To encourage the development of logical and analytical thinking, i.e., to become a good problem solver.
To pass a comprehensive exam.
To reawaken an interest in the clinical neurosciences.

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Questions? Comments? Send a message to the CATS guru: jkessler@salus.uvm.edu